Midseason Awards: The Fans Vote

Tonight’s match marks the midway point of the Crew’s 2013 season. Throughout the week, readers
have submitted answers to one question per day on where the team stands at this point.

Here’s what the fans think of the first 16 games.

Most Valuable PlayerThe last piece added to the Crew’s puzzle this preseason is the overwhelming fan choice for
first-half most valuable player. Dominic Oduro, who leads the team with seven goals while shuffling
between the midfield and forward, took in a whopping 90.0 percent of the votes.

“Oduro for first half MVP,” @Crewcible tweeted. “Most consistent and most productive. G-baum
second for early season heroics. Quiet lately.”

“Oduro,” tweeted @maumeeandy. “7 G and playing 2 positions. Electricity every time he touches
ball for a potential breakaway. He also delivers pizza!”

@MattyLight13 added: “Oduro. His pace is an element we've lacked for too long.”

Several readers made the case for Higuain but could not argue against Oduro’s production.

“While I want to say Higuain has been our MVP so far this season, I can't help but feel that
Oduro is our MVP thus far,” wrote Joshua Scales. “He is the leading scorer and our most dangerous
player. And he does it from different positions of the field. I'm glad we picked him up in the
offseason.”

Biggest DisappointmentReader Ken Hanson summed up the general feeling I got from most readers when asked about the
biggest disappointment for the Crew so far this season.

“Bah, I don’t know how to distill it down to a short, specific gripe, but it seems coaching and
front office keeps doing the same thing year after year and expecting different results,” he wrote.
“They don’t learn from prior seasons and adapt accordingly.”

As I expected, the answers I received were varied. After categorizing them as best I could, the
top answer concerned head coach Robert Warzycha.

@lson197 wrote on Twitter: “the COACHING. Should have fired RW and gone after Porter look at
what he's done with Portland.”

Trailing closely behind were the team’s inability to finish followed by the Crew’s 2-3-3 record
at Crew Stadium this season.

“You can’t make the playoffs and have success if you can’t win at home – end of story. And I
suspect goals #2 and #3 would be a lot easier to accomplish with a successful team. No one wants to
buy season tickets to watch a team lose. And if there isn’t people in the stands, why would a
company want to associate their name with empty seats?”

One reader said he would not renew his season tickets if Warzycha returns for the 2014
season.

Playoffs?I recognize that only part of the fanbase is active on the internet, but an overwhelming
majority of fans who responded to the final question of the week said they do not see the Crew
reaching the 2013 postseason.

Tying into Thursday’s question, Jeff McCullough wrote the Crew could make the playoffs “if we
fire Robert and bring someone in to refocus these guys – a shrink is not the answer. We would make
it because we have the talent and a hot streak at the right time works wonders.”

On Twitter, @BrianThuma hedged his bets, saying, “if the goals come, yes. If they do not, no.
Based on history, I'm going to say no.”

Meanwhile, @4castnate said, “I think it will take 51 pts to make playoffs. I don’t see #Crew96
going 9-5-4 (or better) the 2nd half of the season.”